Regular readers and mates will know that I have a bit of a Love/Hate relationship with Cadbury. Their green snot peppermint dairy milk block, execrable Fudge Brownie and Boysenberry Shortcake desserts were only (just) forgiven when they revamped their Old Gold range and even brought in some passably good Tiramisu and Crème Brulee desserts.
This time, they won me. In fact, they had me at the label – Double Dipped (oh yeah) Cherry Ripe (a classic) with 70% cocoa (woo hoo – their magnificent Old Gold!).
To ease my eyes from the box and cure my grumpiness, I had to buy two classic Cherry Ripes to compare with – yes, not one but two – of the newer, richer, thicker, better Cherry Ripes.
Naturally, as is their standard modus operandi, Cadbury have reduced the weight of the new bar by 5g. The classic is 55g and the Double Dipped is 50g and only my taste buds would be able to tell if such a sneaky act could be forgiven.
It was looking good so far. Much thicker and darker covering on the Double Dipped. I reminded myself of just how good the classic Cherry Ripe tastes (just so I could have a balanced viewpoint, dear reader), before trying the new one.
And the verdict – those forgotten five grams are forgiven, Cadbury. Launching a new variety that proclaims to be better than a much-loved favourite (hello to many experimental versions of Kit-Kat, Picnic and Boost) is often a risk, with the new versions slowly relegated to the bargain bin before disappearing forever.
Not so in this case. The chocolate layer is noticeably thicker than the original Cherry Ripe which gives the inhaler (moi) a longer moment to enjoy the slow, decadent dissolving of Cadbury’s beautifully rich Old Gold 70% cocoa chocolate. Then, the coconut and cherry filing – which looks, tastes and feels noticeably moister and softer than the original – emerges through the bliss of the chocolate, revealing the sweetness of the glace cherry and the lingering chewiness of the coconut.
Cadbury should be beating their chests loudly and with pride at this achievement instead of merely hiding it away next to the Crunchies on the supermarket shelves. This will most definitely become a favourite of mine. In fact it already is.
When I saw this bar, it struck me as a pretty thing, but with some obvious seriousness. The chocolate doesn’t really carry on the “pretty” look, though.
The first thing that came to my mind from its boxiness was a Tonka truck. It’s also divided into some of the smaller pieces I’ve seen, though not the smallest. It has a feel like wax in your hands and smells deep, bitter, and sweet all at the same time.
The first taste is bitter, then it turns softer and warmer, with an ever so slight fruitiness. I think that this is one of the most bitter 75% chocolates I’ve come across. Maybe because it has only three ingredients: cocoa, sugar, and cocoa butter. Even so, it’s also light as air. It makes me think of a cross between E. Guittard and Michel Cluizel. Smooth and clean.
So despite my comments about the Tonka truck, this is a nice bar. Too bitter to eat much of, but maybe that works out to be a good thing when it was $8.50 for 100 grams.
This is one of a range of simple, square bars of chocolate that Thorntons are doing at the moment. I’m not entirely sure what makes it “Special”, but it does seem a bit of an odd way to describe toffee. I found myself wondering if it was part of the “OK Once You Get To Know It” range, made with “Not Too Bad Really” cocoa beans. But that probably has more to do with the strange ways my mind works than Thorntons product naming policies.
First impressions are everything, so I was a little disappointed when I opened the (well designed) cardboard box to find the chocolate wrapped in plastic. It may have “unwrap me – eat me – love me” stamped all over it, but it’s still plastic. It’s ugly, difficult to recycle, and there’s really no need for it.
The ridiculousness of this situation is only emphasised by the wording on the back of the box:
I mean, come on. “We’d love you to recycle this…. but you can’t”. Why even bother?
But my mood was lifted somewhat when I opened the plastic and was greeted by a wonderful toffee aroma.
And I’m glad to say, it tastes as good as it smells. The flavour reminded me of the caramel part of Hotel Chocolat’s Triple Wham Bam Slab. It’s a little sweet, but it’s packed full of tiny “shards” of toffee that give it a delicious, slightly burnt taste. Think of it as having tiny pieces of ground up Daim Bar in it, and you’d be on the right track.
Despite not being a fan of the packaging, I really enjoyed this bar. I even had to put it back in the box and hide it from myself so I wouldn’t eat it in one go.
(Unfortunately, precisely 7 minutes later I found where I’d hidden it and demolished the rest of the bar. Oh well… back to Thorntons I guess…)
I’m rather fond of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Their stores sell confections more than chocolates, but that’s still nice. Long before Kath reviewed the Chocolade soda, I spied this bottle sitting on top of Rocky Mountain’s glass case, but I never was too interested in trying it as I don’t like carbonated drinks. Of any kind. Or so I thought.
The design is certainly less sophisticated than Chocolade, but maybe they’re right in marketing it more towards kids. The aroma I found nice and familiar. What was it? Oh, that’s right, artifical chocolate taste. Not surprising, considering there’s no mention of chocolate in the ingredients. Only “natural and artifical flavor.” Ah. But I truly liked the concept. Because it’s carbonated, the chocolate flavor comes more as an aftertaste, but you get both at almost the same time, anyway. It also has a pretty, chocolately color, however (since there isn’t any coloring in it) I think we have the cane sugar used to thank instead of any chocolate.
I’m not sure how Chocolade was made, but my only problem with Coco Fizz is that it’s a “fake chocolate” taste. With more quality ingredients, I’d be all for it. Even as it is, I say, rather nice.
